Isle Royale Forums

Hello. Another question for the veterans of the Isle. Is bringing a pole and minimal tackle worth my carry weight? I plan on traversing the island and would like to fish, but read in many forums that off shore and inland isle fishing is not too productive. I do enjoy the tranquility of fishing. Has anyone had any luck with off shore or inland waters?

Hello Tinman!

First off, I would not be caught dead on IR without my fishing equipment! To me, nothing beats down time like fishing and nothing beats freeze dried meals like fresh fish!!

You mentioned that you have read on several forums that the fishing from shore is not productive. I've been to the island 3 times now and I've always managed to catch numerous fish from shore (although a boat is definitly better). Fishing 'on the big water' may not be as productive (athough one always stands a chance of catching one the several cold water species that lives in Superior and it's bays), but any of the inland lakes provide excellent fishing. Pike are notorious for patrolling weedy shorelines and make the perfect target for shoreline casting. I remember my first trip and I was able to pull multiple pike out from both Lake Ritchie and Chickenbone while fishing from shore. Just this past year, I caught a coaster trout up in Tobin Harbor fishing from the docks. So yeah, bringing a pole is a MUST in my book!!

As far as what to bring, I wouldn't bother with a rod that requires a case. It's added weight and if it's like mine, it actually weighs more than the rod and reel. Plus it's either sticking protuding above or below your pack and can get hung up on the trail. I'm not sure what your financial situation is, but I recommend picking up a pack rod. I currently bring at least 2 rods and 1 reel (with a spare spool) with me. Both of the rods are pack rods. I picked up both at that big outdoor store with Bass in title. One is a Medium Heavy Exteme spinning rod (6'6 and breaks down into 4 section $99) and the other is a medium action Micro-lite (refers to weight. It's still heavy duty enough to land a pike and breaks down into 4 sections also) spinning rod (on sale right now for $44) also in 6'. The micro-lite rod and reel only weight 13oz for the combo. Bring along a few of your favorite lures and for ony 1lb, you can add a whole new element to your IR backpacking experience.

Definitely! Never step foot on IR without it! I ended up getting a fairly decent 4 piece rod and usually carry two small boxes of lures. Heck, I rounded Blake Pt one year and saw a guy fishing off the shore north of Meritt Lane...he had 3 medium sized lakers on the rock next to him.

I've had Great success from shore and even better Luck from a Boat. But either way, it is well worth the carry weight.

Some inland lakes are not as good as others. I understand, and know from experience, that Desorand and Hatchet are not the lates to fish. But others like Ritchie, Chickenbone, Wood, and Whittlesey and loaded.

I think I coulda cought fish with one of my tent stakes as a lure, they bite on Anything!

I take it you will be backpacking; otherwise, you wouldn't be concerned about the weight. Without a boat, you will not be fishing Wood or Whittlesey. Not sure if u r a MI resident. I am not, and the fact that I don't need a license to fish inland lakes is a bonus. How many places can u fish for FREE anymore?

Chickenbone has walleye and northern pike. The other inland lakes at your disposal are strictly northern pike and perch, but typically just pike. You can no longer use lures with barbed hooks. It can be challenging to land a pike at the shoreline without a net, even with a barbed treble hook. Without jaw spreaders and needle nose pliers to remove the lure, u will have to resort to beating it over the head with a rock; otherwise, u can look forward to some nasty cuts on your fingers, and risk infection.

Jaw spreaders weigh very little; a pr of hemostats might make for a lighweight needle nose pliers. It is still worth bringing a rod/reel. The extra weight is offset by not having to pack an extra day's food.

Good spots on the east end of the park- chickenbone, richie, mason. If u r fishing early or late season, it definitely pays to fish off the campground docks on lake superior waters! But if u r a nonresident, that will cost u $43 (to include a trout stamp), or u can do 24 hr license for $7/day (u can designate non-consecutive 24 hr periods, to time what days u will be fishing superior waters).

When backpacking, I have carried a 2pc rod either in my hand or behind the side pocket of my pack. Never had a problem. If you use hiking poles, you could tape 1 pc of a 2 pc rod to each pole.

The voyageur boat requires that "fishing poles must be in protective cases". I've experimented with using sewer, plumbing or PVC pipe as a rod case, but i think the thin-wall pipe may only be in the larger diameters - overkill for a single 2-piece rod; but i'm not sure. It would be good to encase it some such way b/c then u can go off trail without a worry. One day i went looking for lake ojibway, mistook a marsh for the end of the lake, and when i finally got back to the trail 45 minutes later, realized that my 4-piece pole was gone! I had to retrace my bushwack steps and found 3 pieces before running out of daylight. I thought crap there goes my fishing plans and part of my planned diet. (mid-May so i knew i could bank on some fish). The next day i went back into the marsh and miraculously found the skinny end (green/black rod). But ended up with holes in one of my high neoprene boots in the "search&rescue". So i say figure out a way to encase your rod (if it's a 2-piece, at least encase the top half to protect it), and attach a safety string from the rod case to your pack, so u know if it slips off.

The ends of the jaw spreaders are quite sharp and can put a hole in your pack, so its a good idea to keep them encapsulated in a thin plastic cylinder, maybe inside your largemouth water bottle? Or fashion some type of protective sleeve for storing the sharp end.

After brainstorming with my jack-of-all-trades brother, he advises fashioning the rod case out of thin rollable rigid plastic. Roll it to the desired inside diameter, overlap a bit for good measure, cut off the excess, and maintain the tube shape using 3/4" diameter Gorilla duct tape at 3 or 4 places along the tube. Use the bottom of a spice container or the like as an endcap.

Back in town, so i was able to check out a rollable sheet of plastic i have on hand (and had in mind), but it's much too thick (1/10 inch) to roll up into a small diameter tube. Now i'm thinking of a plastic "for sale" sign (or the like), though while it would certainly be lightweight, i'm not sure how much protection it would provide. I suppose one could do a double-wall thickness of the stuff.

Most pack rods now come with a case made of fabric with sleeves that that hold the individual sections of the rod. Once they are inserted, you fold the flap over the end and tie them off. Without going overkill, I'm thinking this is about the most practical way to keep from losing pieces.

An option for a longer 2 piece rod would be to sew up a similar set up made from a canvas type material. Once both pieces are rolled together and tied / strapped, I'm thinking it would take a large amount of force to break the bundled rod and it would be less cumbersome and lighter than a tube....

Pole, reel, lures = 2 lbs. = one days food supply.

If hiking, I skip the fishing; if paddling, I fish.

jrwiesz wrote:Pole, reel, lures = 2 lbs. = one days food supply.

If hiking, I skip the fishing; if paddling, I fish.

Nice plan!

Disclamer, I have never been to Isle Royale.

I have never brought a case, I just simply pack my pole sections inside my pack with my tent poles to protect them. It makes it a little harder to get it out mid day, but I just fish mornings and evenings after arriving at my destination.

I use a telescoping rod, usually a cheap Ugly Stick. Before the days of my NeoAir, I could simply roll it up inside my sleeping pad. Now I can just as easily roll it up inside my tent and never notice it's there while hiking. A few spoons and Mepps, leaders, and a hemostat are all I need. Minimal weight (and that's something I'm always concerned with), lots of entertainment. Enjoy.

bergman wrote:Good spots on the east end of the park- chickenbone, richie, mason. If u r fishing early or late season, it definitely pays to fish off the campground docks on lake superior waters! But if u r a nonresident, that will cost u $43 (to include a trout stamp), or u can do 24 hr license for $7/day (u can designate non-consecutive 24 hr periods, to time what days u will be fishing superior waters).

Where would the best place be to pick up the MI fishing license? We will be leaving GP on the Voyager II and we have several people in our group that will be coming from the west or flying into Minneapolis-St Paul Int. Airport. Can we buy them at Windigo?

sgatz wrote:Where would the best place be to pick up the MI fishing license? We will be leaving GP on the Voyager II and we have several people in our group that will be coming from the west or flying into Minneapolis-St Paul Int. Airport. Can we buy them at Windigo?

The last time I checked (a few years ago) you could get them at the marina by the casino in Grand Portage--NOT where the Voyageur II leaves from, but a couple miles around the bay. That would be your best option. You can get them in Windigo, but if you're going on past there it may take more time than the VII wants to wait. Both places sold daily licenses only, and unless it's changed the only way to get an annual MI license is to visit Michigan--the on-line system required some sort of MI recreation pass (would be great if this has changed).